Hi All - Anyone Had Noise Problems Vs. Neighbours?

[APG78]

Hi all. My first post on any fish related websites! Thought I'd start as I mean to go on, enhancing my knowledge a little. I live on a 1st floor flat(apartment) and the construction of the floor is hard wood, and what I think is tubular hollowed concrete design - nice and loud, like a guitar. I have no carpet under my tank, and have an Ehiem 1262 on its own at the moment in a sump. It's loud. Neighbour has not yet said switch it off, but instead went and switched on their ceiling fan for a while around 10pm, then held what sounded like an electric screwdriver against the wall for a few goes? Mature... but this person is a representative of the management company for the flats (as am I) and could cause me problems - such as telling me it's a breach of the lease/covenant agreement?

I can hear it in the next room (living room), my bedroom. VERY low, my little gas boiler is louder, as are the cars going by outside.

Before I start getting really worried and think about giving up before I've added fish... anyone had any dealings of this sort?

Many thanks,
Al.

 

[Jenste]

is it on a wall that you share with your neighbor? could you perhaps put it on an interior wall inside the apartment, so that the only wall it touches is the one which divides one room from the other in your own space? also, what about (when you do move it), putting a piece of carpet or a couple layers of towels underneath it to disperse the sound?

 

[APG78]

is it on a wall that you share with your neighbor? could you perhaps put it on an interior wall inside the apartment, so that the only wall it touches is the one which divides one room from the other in your own space? also, what about (when you do move it), putting a piece of carpet or a couple layers of towels underneath it to disperse the sound?

Hi Jenste. Below is the layout of my flat, with theirs directly under us in the same layout (minus the tank I think)!
It's as far from the bedroom as possible, and next to the west facing wall, so it doesn't seem to get much direct sunlight.

I was curious, would something weighing in at what I think would be over 700Kg's sound quieter on carpet or not? It's full now, and salinity is spot on. Took about 3 days to fill from an RO system. 425 litres and 80 in the sump. I'm loathed to do it again - but I think I may have cracked it, changed the pump from submerged in the sump to in-line and sitting on some very thick foam. Not had any childish tapping on the ceilings, yet. I can't hear it, and even with my ear to the floor in the living room, don't think I can hear anything - but the noise from the wier/drain/return(?) to the sump is pretty loud at the moment.

Fingers crossed I guess?

 

[kaivalagi]

I'd say if a filter can be heard by your neighbours then the fault with the construction of the floor and not with you.

Also if they're bedroom is below yours could they really hear the filter when trying to sleep?

Maybe stick something underneath the filter to dampen the sound? But I wouldn't worry past doing that to be fair.

 

[Shelby]

Either that or just flat out ask your neighbors if they can hear it and if they say yes let them know you are doing your best to fix the problem and hopefully they will be patient for a few days. Sometimes it's best to just deal with the issue straight on. Most people appreciate the straightforward approach and knowing you are willing to try to fix the problem asap.

 

[APG78]

I'd say if a filter can be heard by your neighbours then the fault with the construction of the floor and not with you.

Also if they're bedroom is below yours could they really hear the filter when trying to sleep?

Maybe stick something underneath the filter to dampen the sound? But I wouldn't worry past doing that to be fair.

Thanks - my floor (their ceiling) is made of concrete, but with a hollow tubeular type construction. Kind of like a guitar, amplifies footsteps etc. I've moved the return pump into a plastic container with some pretty thick foam now, and I can't hear it while in the room.

We'll see what happens...

 

[APG78]

Either that or just flat out ask your neighbors if they can hear it and if they say yes let them know you are doing your best to fix the problem and hopefully they will be patient for a few days. Sometimes it's best to just deal with the issue straight on. Most people appreciate the straightforward approach and knowing you are willing to try to fix the problem asap.

Hi thanks for your comment - agreed. Direct approach is the best approach. Should have done that myself first, but I was thinking of waiting until they asked first - didn't expect the slightly childish response I got. But with any luck, it's sorted now - just need to replace the slightly loud TeraTEC APS400 - seems to vibrate rather loudly, but as that's just an air-curtain and a air-stone in the sump, could leave that off "after hours". Will see how it sounds tonight... don't know if the sump NEEDS aeration though, I need to do some more research.

 

[APG78]

Well, problem solved - went and chatted, they're eager to take a look see when it's up and running. Went and put my ear on their wall below in their living room and can only just about hear the water returning to the sump system, so all good - that was with my loud karola3 running, super loud tetratec aps thing going, return pump going, so all good?

Until I add the protein skimmer?

Cheers all.

 

[Shelby]

All's well that ends well Glad your neighbors are grumps

 

[APG78]

All's well that ends well Glad your neighbors are grumps

Yup. Onwards and upwards and all that. Thanks.

 

[drsquirrel]

It's good that you went and asked them... although I would have felt awkward going down "so... why the banging?"

You could have just sorted it... and then complained about your neighbours below making noises

 

[APG78]

It's good that you went and asked them... although I would have felt awkward going down "so... why the banging?"

You could have just sorted it... and then complained about your neighbours below making noises

Yeah, I don't tend to try and start arguments - but direct approach is normally the best. Even though she said she heard nothing, I don't believe her - but as I'd already removed the return pump and it was quiet, was ok. Not just need to install a Dursto flow thingy, it's WAY too loud now for me(the missus)!